“Used, abused without clues. I refused to blow a fuse. They even had it on the news. Don’t believe the hype.”

These immortal words, spoken in 1988 by the venerable Chuck D, could not ring truer in an age where Twitter followers and YouTube video views are looked at as a definitive measuring stick for talent. Buzz is, more often than not, a four-letter word. So it was with mild trepidation that we investigated Rhye, an LA-based duo who’ve chosen to keep their identities a secret in the midst of releasing a svelte, super sexy EP called Open that has the interweb, well, buzzing… and rightly so. (Check the slightly NSFW video for the title track after the jump.)

If the EP’s three tunes—along with three instrumental versions—are any indication of what’s to come, this is some hype you’re gonna want to get behind with a quickness. In the interest of discretion, an email interview is all we could arrange, but we’re hoping it shines a little more light on the personalities behind Rhye. For what it’s worth, we’re gonna put our money down that one of the band’s two members is Mike Milosh, someone we’ve been following since You Make Me Feel came out on Plug Research in 2004, but that’s as far as we’ve gotten.

At a time when everything is completely (if not overly) public, I’m super intrigued by the mystery surrounding this band, but I’m wondering how long something can be secret for. In a perfect scenario, how would things play out over the next few months?

Rhye: It’s going to be hard to keep it a secret. However, our point isn’t just to stay hush about it for the sake of publicity. We want people to be interested in the music—if it’s something that does touch them—for no other reason than the actual song moves them in some way. Our attempt at anonymity was to allow the songs to just be their own thing, so to speak. I hope that Rhye gains a momentum fueled by the sincere interest in the songs; a subtle interest that grows as the songs we have created become part of peoples lives.

Tell me about your decision to sign with Innovative Leisure. Like you, they’re based in LA and have just a handful of artists, a few of which are also Biz3 clients. Is it preferable for Rhye to work in small circles, given the stage of the band?

Rhye: The guys at Innovative knew us both separately from our other projects. When we told them that we were starting Rhye and showed them some demos, they expressed to us that they were interested in working with us and it just kind of grew from there; a natural progression. In terms of small circles, we just want to work with people that are passionate about what we are doing and we found that in Jamie and Nate and Biz3. It’s a great partnership.

What’s the most entertaining bit of speculation you’ve heard about the band?

Rhye: Interesting. Well, of course it’s the gender of the singer that is particularly interesting to me. It’s funny being told my sexual orientation and preference.

The production on the EP is sexy, minimal, and has a groovy R&B flavor to it. Can you tell me a bit about how the tracks are produced and some of the gear you like using?

Rhye: We just start with a melodic idea on a synth or piano then start adding elements. The mood of what is created, combined with the things that are going on in my life, give birth to the lyrics which in turn inspires the production. We use Logic, we use a multitude of synths—some soft, some physical—we record the strings with the same mic as we do vocals. It’s all quite quant to be honest. Then we mix it in a much more professional environment.

A few articles say that Rhye is comprised of two people who may or may not be in other bands. My first question would be what other bands, but on the off chance you’re not gonna answer that one, I’d ask this: if you are in other bands, how many albums have you collective put out as other bands?

Rhye: Collectively we have put out more than 10 records.

I’m gonna say one word and I want you to give me the first thing that comes to mind. Sade.

Rhye: Soft focus.

The 110 freeway.

Rhye: Carbon monoxide.

Cassette singles.

Rhye: Hiss.

Drum machines.

Rhye: R2D2.

In-N-Out Burger.

Rhye: Don’t get me started on the evils of soy and its omni presence in all packaged foods.

Facebook.

Rhye: Metrics.

Maria Callas.

Rhye: Not my thing, to be honest.

Whiskey.

Rhye: Rowdy.

Last question. How much of an LP is currently written and when might we heard more music? Also, will you be working with any outside producers or engineers, or will it be just you two?

Rhye: Well, the entire LP is completed. We are just having our engineer in Copenhagen mix it then off to mastering it in Montreal. As for outside producers, definitely not. We are the producers. I wouldn’t trust anyone else with this project. I am staying as far away from the industrialization of music as I can.

Words by Rich Thomas (@TheLandfill).